Hi Arlene;
I am having the exact same issue due my phone dropped off from bed, so wanted to share my experience (still unsolved).
Mic not working unless I used “loudspeaker”. I have tried diagnostic tool, a software repair by Xperia companion and all that good stuff, to no avail.
I did some research and came to conclusion that mic was damaged during the fall. I myself am experienced in electronics and basic phone parts replacement; I decided to give it a try (no tech support from Sony anywhere near). I opened the phone and when removed the plastic part where the loud speaker is, on top the mic flexor, I immediately saw that the microphone plate/cover (a small rectangular metal plate) was not completely attached/pasted to the charger/mic flexor circuit. Furthermore, when touched it dropped apart, including a very tiny metal component inside the internals of the microphone. I re assembled the phone back, and after that, not even the “loudspeaker” worked anymore (the loudspeaker does work, I mean the microphone function while using loudspeaker function), what I assumed was due the microphone disassembling completely after opening.
Therefore, I ordered a replacement flexor; it came in yesterday so today I replaced it.
Well, I have the same result, the phone microphone does not work, not normal or loud speaking mode. It is just like with the broken microphone flex. What I did notice different this time is that if I “use” the mic to try to catch very loud noise/sounds, and then playing it back, I am able to ear the loudest sounds if I put the volume all the way up and get the phone as close as I can to my ears. This does happen again if, by using some app (like whatsapp audio messaging) to record something meanwhile I’m playing a song with the phone, the sound is able to be recorded, again, very low volume, but louder than any external sound.
Summary: I am lost. The new flexor replacement did not solve the issue, but it seems that somehow the mic is “almost” muted, as it records only the loudest sounds. In practice, during a phone call for example, this useless.
Running or of alternatives, either the new flexor is also damaged, or…worst, there is something bad with the motherboard.
Hopefully someone has any advice for us. Regards.
